Automatic bagging machine



June 18, 1963 J. K. KERSHAW AUTOMATIC BAGGING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12, 1957 FIG.

June 18, 1963 J. K. KERSHAW 3,

AUTOMATIC BAGGING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JOHN KNOX KERSHAW ATTO RN EY June 18, I963 J. K. KERSHAW 3,094,181

AUTOMATIC BAGGING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet s FIG. 4

INVENTOR. JOHN KNOX KERSHAW ATTORNEY J. K. KERSHAW AUTOMATIC BAGGING MACHINE June 18, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed NOV. 12, 1957 START OVERLOAD 1 (STOP +209 SWITCH 208 2 0 SW I TCHEL INTERLOCK RELAY FIG. 8

WEIGH BUC KET GAT E ARM SWITCH FIG.6

W r Ms TR NE WK mx 0 N K N H O J ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,094,181 AUTOMATIC BAGGING MACHINE John Knox Kershaw, Montgomery, Ala, assignor to Jackson Manufacturing Company, inn, Montgomery, Aim, a corporation of Alabama Filed Nov. 12, 1957, Ser. No. 695,893 13 Claims. (Cl. 177-1) The invention relates to automatic bagging machines and is particularly concerned with the automatic bagging of successive predetermined weights of granular fluent material.

Automatic weighing machines constructed and arranged to deliver successive batches of material for subsequent individual bagging operations of a Wide variety of types, have heretofore been in successful operation for many years. One difiiculty of such equipment is a failure to maintain an accurate incremental discharge, based upon weight, of the successive batches. While a generally accurate weight may be elected and adhered to, a fine accuracy has been difficult to achieve primarily because of a lack of prompt and accurate response between weight detection and feed termination. Other problems which have not been solved to complete satisfaction relate to feed mechanisms which may be readily and accurately controlled for prompt response to predetermined weight selection.

Dimculties have also arisen with respect to the impact resulting from the sudden release of predetermined weights of material or fractions thereof into hoppers. A similar problem arises with respect to the ultimate discharge of measured quantities of material into bags, or similar receptacles. Since if the mouths of such receptacles are not secured when material is discharged thereinto, they may be knocked aside by the impact of material causing an error in the operation. On the other hand, where the mouths of such receptacles are secured, the securing operation is time consuming and the structure required is expensive, difficult of manipulation and subject to breakdown. Such prior apparatuses as have met with successful commercial utilization are, for the most part, large, heavy, cumbersome and permanent installations. Hence, if accurate batch loading from a plurality of bins is required, a number of such stationary and expensive units is necessary.

The present invention seeks to overcome these and other problems by the provision of a novel, simple and highly efiicient weight responsive automatic bagging machine which is readily movable and easily applied and removed from conventional discharge chutes of any one of a selected group of material bins. Thus, the arrangement permits the use of a single bagging machine with a group of bins without requiring individual machines for each bin and without requiring a permanent foundation or setting. The invention also provides for a unique feed mechanism in the form of a rotary feed drum together with a tangentially mounted, resiliently faced, cut-off blade so constructed and arranged as to readily control a rapid continuous feed of material and/or a limited dribble feed whereby minimum time is required for the delivery of the main selected weight of material while a maximum accuracy is achieved for the terminal flow of material to complete the predetermined weight. The in vention also provides for an improved electromagnetic control operated by a conventional weight mechanism to the end that both the feed and the discharge of material may be rapidly and accurately controlled in response to predetermined weights. In addition, suitable means are provided for the reception of a predetermined load by a hopper whereby the impact of such load delivery will not produce injurious shock. The invention ice also provides for an automatic ultimate discharge of a completed and accurately determined load by means precluding the damage or displacement of bags and like receptacles arranged for the reception of such predetermined load. In connection with this latter feature there is provided a unique bag mouth engaging means without me chanical moving parts whereby a single operator may conveniently secure and retain a bag mouth in material receiving position and may release the same for transfer and replacement without manual ditficulty.

It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide a novel and improved automatic bagging machine which will eifectively and efficiently dispense successive, accurately measured increments of relatively free flowing material to successive bags or equivalent receptacles.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a device of the character set forth which is mobile and easily attached and detached from any one of a selected group of storage bins whereby a single unit may eflFectively and selectively serve any one of such bins without requiring independent equipment permanently secured to each bin.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a device of the character described, an improved feed mechanism which may be operative to rapidly discharge a uniform flow of material and which may be automatically adjusted by movable gate means to restrict the flow to a terminal limited quantity to assist in the accurate determination of the ultimate weight of the individual batches.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide unique and accurately controlled electromagnetic means responsive to weight detection for the coordinated operation of several of the combined elements of the equipment to the end that accurate uniform repetitious discharge of predetermined weights of material may be achieved.

Another object of the present invention is to provide shock responsive means by which the release of predetermined weights of material or fractions thereof may be achieved without danger of shock or injury to the apparatns.

lit is also an object of the present invention to provide in combination with a machine of the character set forth, a bag mouth retaining means which may be readily operable to secure a bag mouth in material receiving position, such arrangement being constructed and arranged to avoid damage or displacement of the bag as the material is discharged therein.

With these and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of one ment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of that form of the invention presented in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the device.

FIG. 4 is a detail side elevation of the hopper and feed roll taken from the opposite side of the machine as that depicted in FIG. 2.

'FIG. 5 is a detail view of a the device.

FIG. 6 is a detail view illustrating the weight responsive mechanism and its associated coupling.

FIG. 7 is a detail view of the weight responsive release mechanism.

FIG. 8 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating one means of electrical control. I

Referring to the drawings which present one preferred embodiment of one form of the invention the roll feeder and its gate assembly, which is adapted to be affixed to the conventional bin, hopper, discharge chute of any prepreferred embodisupport adjustment for ferred form of storage chamber, is physically independent of the surge hopper and its gate assembly as well as associated weight bucket and flexible interconnecting mechanisms thereof. As here shown, the roll feeder and gate unit are secured to the fixed bin or hopper by opposed upper and lower peripheral angle irons 11 and 12, respectively. Vertical corner posts of like angle irons 13 are engaged with the lower angle irons 12 to support horizontal base rails 14. It will of course be understood that the angle irons 11 and 12 are securely attached as by welding to the spout of the fixed bin 10 which thus sustains the weight of the roll feeder and its gate assembly. A roll feeder motor 15 is supported on the rails 14 and a drive therefrom to the roll feeder is provided through the chain 16. Chain 16 passes over the roll feeder sprocket 17 aflixed to the horizontal roll feeder axle 18 whereupon energization of the motor 15 will impart rotation to the axle and hence to the roll feeder drum. The roll feeder drum itself includes a central cylindrical feed roll peripheral surface 20 formed at its ends with outstanding terminal flanges 21. The body of the surface 20 is located in direct vertical alignment below the opening of the bin 10 so that the material passing through the bin will engage the peripheral surface 20, the rotation of which will cause material to feed from the bin spout. As Will be noted, the axle 18 is mounted in depending bearing bracket 24 secured by bolts 25 to the horizontal rails 14 supported by the corner posts 13. The control gate of the roll feeder and gate assembly includes a generally arcuate gate element formed with a yieldable drum surface contacting edge 31 of rubber or like resilient material. The gate 30 is supported on curved gate arms 32 supported from a gate control shaft 33 by engagement through arm bosses 34 mounted for rotation with the shaft 33 to provide for an arcuate swing of the gate toward and from the cylindrical feed surface 29. For a"- tuating the shaft 33 its outward extension through its bearing in the standard 13 is provided at one end with an actuating arm 36 to which is selectively engaged the clevis 37 of an actuating cable 38. The clevis 37 is engaged through a selected one of the spaced apertures 39 by an engaging pin 40 whereby the amplitude of rotation of the shaft 33 with respect to movements of the cable 38 may be selected as desired. The rotation of the shaft 33 is also controlled by hydraulic means through arm 50 secured to the opposite extending end of the shaft 33, the free end of which is engaged by the piston rod 51. The hydraulic means is further characterized by a piston mounted for reciprocation within a cylinder 52 and having a spring 53 engaged through a bracket 54 with the rod 51 to normally urge the piston rod 51 downwardly for rotating the arm 50 in counterclockwise direction as noted in FIG. 4 of the drawing. A fluid reservoir 55 is mounted adjacent and parallel with the cylinder 52 having a return fluid duct 56 associated with the top thereof and with the top of the cylinder 52 while a line including check valve 57 connects between the lower end of the reservoir 55 and the lower end of the oyhnder 52. The check valve is arranged to permit the free passage of fluid from the reservoir 55 to the lower end of the cylinder 52 so that the rotation of the shaft 33 under the influence of the cable 38, clockwise as viewed in FIG. 4 and counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 2, may be unimpeded with respect to the fluid of the hydraulic system. 'It will be understood that such movement of the shaft 33 will be in the direction of opening the gate 30 to permit maximum feed of material from the hopper 10. When opening impulse through the tension of the cable 38 is terminated the spring 53 will tend to return the shaft 33 to the fully closed position of the gate 36; however, such movement will be retarded by the presence of fluid in the cylinder beneath the piston of the rod 51. Escape of such fluid to permit the closing action is permitted through the fluid conduit 60 under the control of a manual valve 61 4 which permits passage of fluid from the cylinder 52 upward through the conduit 62 to return the reservoir 55 at a rate controlled by the position of the valve 61. From this construction it will be seen that the cable 38 will be actuated to rapidly open the gate 30 to a full feed position, while the closing of the gate will be suppressed by the dash pot effect of the fluid system, the rate of such closing being under the control of the setting of the valve 61 which permits passage of the fluid from beneath the piston in the cylinder 52 to the reservoir 55. *It will of course be understood that, in the opening of the gate, fluid may pass freely from the chamber 55 to the cylinder 52 above the piston and fluid may pass freely to the cylinder 52 below the piston past the check valve 57 Without restraint by the valve 61.

In the operation of the roll feeder and gate unit it will be understood that when the gate 30 is fully closed and the drum is not rotated as when the motor 15 is not energized no material will be passed from the hopper '10 to the mechanism through the roll feeder and gate unit to the mechanism therebelow. When the cable 38 is moved downwardly the gate 30 is opened in the manner referred to and material is fed rapidly from the hopper by the rotation of the feed roller drum surface 20 past the open gate 30 to be discharged therebelow. When the tension on the cable 38 is relaxed to permit the closing movement of the gate 30, the gate 3!) will swing inwardly under the control of the hydraulic mechanism to slowly decrease the space between its resilient edge 31 and the cylindrical surface 21) to reduce the rate of feed gradually to what is termed in the art as a dribble feed. The length of time required for such closing of the gate and hence the quantity of material delivered while the gate is in process of closing is determined by the setting of the manual valve 61.

Referring now to the surge hopper and its associated gate unit, it will be seen that this structure includes means for actuating the cable 38 to control the original full opening of the feed gate 30. For this purpose an electrical solenoid indicated by the numeral 70 is secured to a pair of channel members 71 supported by the supporting beams of the main ground supported structure of the device. The solenoid bar 72 of the solenoid 70 engages the end of one arm '73 of a double rocker arm which is pivotal-1y mounted on the shaft 74. The opposite arm 75 of the rocker is engaged by clevis 76 to the lower end of the flexible cable 33, the arrangement being such that when the solenoid 71) is energized the rocker will be moved in counterclockwise direction as shown in FIG. 2 to draw the cable 38 downwardly hence rocking the shaft 33 to gate opening position. Since the cable 38 is flexible it will be seen that deenergization of the solenoid 70 will not force the gate 30 closed but will permit the gradual closing thereof under the restraint of the hydraulic system as hereinbefore described.

The shaft 74, to which arms 73 and 75 are secured for rotation therewith by the energization of the solenoid 70, is provided with an arm 80 engaging the upper end of a spring 81, the lower end of which is secured as at 82 so as to normally urge the shaft 74 in clockwise direction, as indicated in FIG. 2, so as to permit closure of the roller feed gate 30. The shaft 74 is supported on bearing blocks 85 between which the arm 80 is mounted along with a latch operating arm 86. The arm 86 is provided with a transverse pin 87 which engages a reciprocating latch bar 88, the shoulder 89 of which is adapted to engage a shoulder 90 of a Weigh bucket gate crank 91 mounted on intermediate bearing 92. The shaft 74 also has mounted thereon the side plate of the surge hopper gate member, the transverse closure 101 of which is adapted, when in downward position, to close the open mouth 102 of the surge hopper 103, bringing gate 101 in registration with the surge hopper opening 102 so that material discharged from the roll feeder will be temporarily lodged in the surge hopper 103 under the control of the gate 1131.

By this arrangement it will be seen that upon energization of the solenoid 70 not only will the cable 33 be jerked downwardly to open the gate 30 of the roll feeder mechanism but at the same time gate 101 will be closed to prevent free discharge of material through the surge hopper 1% to the weigh bucket 18% below. When the solenoid '76 is energized to tension the cable 38 for opening of the roll feeder gate 39, the surge hopper gate W1 is moved to closed position. Upon deenergization of the solenoid 70 a positive movement of the shalt '74 under influence of spring 81 opens the gate 1111 to discharge the material to the weigh bucket 18% and to relax the cable 38 which permit the gate 3t) to be closed under the influence of the hydraulic system. During such closure of the roll feeder gate 30, the surge hopper gate 1M will be opened to permit the dribble feed at the termination of the cycle to pass freely through the surge hopper 1113 after the original discharge of the major portion of the load. Upon energization of the solenoid iii and the closing of the gate 101, the latch bar 83 will be moved to the right, as shown in FIG. 7, to engage the shoulder 90 of the crank 91. it will be seen that the opposite free end of the crank 91 is engaged by the furcated end 111? at the upper end of a weigh bucket gate impact arm 111, the lower end of the weigh bucket impact arm 111 being provided with a head 112 which is arranged to momentarily strike and depress the head 113 of the weigh bucket gate latch rod 114 which is normally urged upwardly by a spring 115. The impact imparted to the rod 114 is such as to rock the lower weigh bucket gate latch crank 118 on its bearing 119 to release the weigh bucket gate 155, arm which may then move in counterclockwise position with its shafit 121 under weight of material on the gate 155 against the influence of its counterweight 12 2 on arm 123 to fully open the gate and permit the full load to pass from the weigh bucket 13% to the spring mounted guide chamber 1335.

Below the surge hopper and gate assembly there is supported for weight responsive movement the weigh bucket generally defined by the numeral 18b and mounted with its open end 131 in communication with the open mouth 102 of the surge hopper 163. The weigh bucket 1% is supported through side brackets 18-2; by upwardly extending supporting links 183, the hook ends 184 of which engage links 185 mounted over the knife edges 186 of balance links 137. As shown in FIG. 1, inner ends of links 187 are mounted by pivot eyes 188 engaging knife edges 189 and hung from hooks 1336* supported from the fixed angle bars 131. Mounted to the opposite floating ends of the links 187 there are provided transverse weighing bars 141 which, as illustrated in FIG. 5, support inwardly directed pairs of weigh beams 141, as best seen in FIG. 6. The arrangement is such that as the weight increased in the surge bucket 18th, pressure will be increased on the links 183 tending to lower the position of rods 1% as the links 187 move about the knife edge 189 as a pivot. Since the beams 141 are fixed to the bars 140 and thus partake of the pivotal movement of the links 18 7, the inner ends 142 of the bars 141 will tend to move upwardly under the downward influence through the link 183 of material in the weigh bucket. Entering through the inner ends 142, of the arms 141 a connector 14-3 associated with the weight arm 14.4 that leads to the clcvis 14,5 of a conventional beam type weighing unit indicated generally at 146 which is of such construction as to be well understood by those versed in the art. Suflice it to say, therefore, that the weighing unit includes a beam 147 with a sliding weigh scale 143, the beam being balanced on the knife edge 149 in such manner as to provide for tilting of the beam under a predetermined weight. The inner end of the beam is provided with a contact element 15% adapted to close the circuit of a switch 151 when the beam is overbalanced by the weight of the material in the weigh bucket 180 which will move the weight on 144 upwardly. As will be hereinafter more fully discussed, the switch 151 is so arranged as to cooperate in the control of the sole noid 7i) in such manner as to provide for the rocking of the shaft 74, depression of the rod 114 and the unlatching of the arm so that the weigh bucket door 155 will be released to swing open under the pressure of the accurately weighed material in the weigh bucket 180 to discharge such material through the reduced width discharge spout 156 thereof.

Surrounding the lower end of the weigh bucket 186 and the reduced discharge spout 155 thereof there is provided .a telescopically arranged shield 160 which may be retained in telescopically adjusted position over a guard member 161 by chains 162, the links of which are adapted to be selectively engaged by furcated brackets 163 mounted on the outer face of the sield 160. At the lower end of the shield 16% there is a further reduced cylindrical sleeve 165 which slidably receives. the upper cylindrical portion 166 of the guide chamber 125, the lower end of which forms a delivery spout 167, the guide 125 being normally urged upwardly on the sleeve 165 by yieldable spring members 168. This arrang ment is such that as the door 155 of the weigh bucket 18% is released and opened to discharge the material therein the impact of such material will be received by the intermediate conical portion of chamber 125 causing the chamber 125 to yield under the impact of such force thereby avoid injury and danger which might result by the reception of the total weight of material by a bag.

An additional feature of the invention is the provision of a bag engaging ridge or detent mounted on one side face of the spout .167, the arrangement being such that a flexible bag edge may be engaged over the detent 174i and retained in registration with the spout so material may be fed into the open mouth of the bag as tension is applied to the opposite edge of the mouth of the bag. The application of such tension by a yieidable force such as the hand of an operator, will releasably retain the bag despite the vertical movement of the spout under the infiuence of the load suddenly deposited therein from the weigh bucket, the mouth thus moving with the hopper 167 as the same moves against the tension of the springs 168 to relieve possible shock of the sudden discharge of the full load.

From the preceding description, the operation of the present device should be apparent. When it is desired to operate the device, the main on-ofi switch 20a in FIG. 8 is closed, supplying a potential between busses 261 and 292. Then the normally open start switch 233 is depressed momentarily by the operator, the start switch 2&3 being in series with the normally closed motor overload switches 2M and 2&5, off switch 2% and the coil 207 of the hold down relay, across busses 2&1 and 2&2. The closing of switch 203 therefore energizes coil 267 which closes switches 2198 and 269. Since switch 2% is in parallel with the start switch 2.133, the coil 297 will remain energized until one of switches 294, 265 or 2th? is opened.

With the closing of switch 2%, current from bus 2?;1 is supplied, via wire 210 to start motor 15, the current passing through the overload coils 2M and 265 to bus 2&2. Thus, motor 15 starts to rotate, driving, via chain 16 and sprocket 17, the shaft 18 which rotates the roll feeder drum and drive surface 20. 7

It will be noted in FIG. 8 that normally open switch 151 is connected in series, via wire 211 and the normally open switch 212 of the time delay relay, with the coil of solenoid 7th across busses 201 and 202. Further, the coil 213 of the time delay relay is connected to one pole of a single pole double throw switch 214- and via wire 215 across busses 201 and 262. The other pole of switch 214 is connected via wire 216 to wire 211 between solenoid 70.

Switch 214 is connected, as shown in FIG. 1, to be contacted by arm 12% whereby when gate 155 is closed, switch 214 is contacting the pole leading to coil 213, and when gate 155 is open, switch 214 is contacting the pole leading to wire 216.

When the cycle begins, solenoid 70 is deene-rgized because switches 151 and 212 are open and switch 214 is making a circuit to coil 213. Thus, a dribble feed is fed by surface past gate 3%), since gate 30 is in the position shown in FIG. 2. The surge hopper gate rc-r is open and the weight bucket door 155 is closed at this time. Coil 213 is energized shortly after the cycle begins, thereby closing switch 212. Thus, material is fed through the surge hopper into bucket 18th When a predetermined amount of material in the weight bucket 180 causes beam 147 to move, it closes switch 151. Solenoid 70 therefor is immediately energized via wire 211 and causes rotation of shaft '74 to open gate 30 and close gate 101. The action of shaft '74 also urges latch bar 88 to the right in FIG. 7 rotating crank 91 to urge arm 11 downwardly. Head 112 thus strikes head 11.3 of rod 114 rocking crank 118 to release arm 120 and permit door 155 to open by the weight of the material in bucket 18!). As soon as the material is discharged from bucket 180, the door 155 is closed by counterweight 122.

As the material is discharged, the surge hopper is being filled rapidly because gate 30 is opened. As door 155 is opened, it shifts switch 214 so as to insure that solenoid 70 remains energized via wire 215 so long 135 material is being discharged. This assures that gate 101 remains closed. When door 155 closes, switch 214 is shifted to the position shown in FIG. 8 and after a short time delay, coil 213 again closes switch 212. The delay in time permits gate 155 to close completely and be latched closed before switch 151 is capable of again energizing solenoid 7d.

The shift in switch 214 deenergizes solenoid 7t and therefore spring 81 rotates shaft 74 to open gate 101 rapidly to dump the material from the surge hopper into the bucket 180. This action permits cable 38 to become slack and therefore spring 53 gradually rotates shaft 33 against hydraulic pressure as described above.

The cycle is then repeated. It is seen that in each subsequent cycle, the surge hopper at the beginning drops a substantial amount of material into bucket 180 and the gate lliil remains open as gate 30 gradually closes; thereby toward the end of the cycle only a dribble amount is fed from surface 20 through the surge hopper to bucket 180.

It will be apparent, therefore, that I have provided a novel automatic bagging machine which is well adapted to fulfill the aforestated objects of the invention. Moreover, whereas the invention has been disclosed in particularity with respect to an embodiment which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention most nearly appertains, that other embodiments and modifications thereof may be provided without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

1. An automatic bagging machine comprising a hopper, a feed roller below said hopper for feeding material therefrom, a feed gate positioned adjacent the periphery of said feed roller and moveable toward and away from said periphery to control the amount of material passing between said roller and said gate, a hydraulic cylinder, a piston within said cylinder, a gate arm connected between said feed gate and said piston, control means for controlling the rate of flow of fluid to said cylinder to variably determine the rate of piston displacement to thereby determine the rate of movement of said gate toward and away from said roller, a solenoid for moving said gate toward and [away from said roller, a time delay switch controlling said solenoid, motor means for driving said feed roller, a source of electrical current for actuating said motor means and said solenoid, a weighing hopper for receiving said material from said roller, weight responsive means supporting said weighing hopper, and means controlled by said weight responsive means for controlling the actuation of said solenoid.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 including a tubular discharge spout arranged below said weighing hopper, discharge means on said weighing hopper and actuated by said solenoid for discharging material from said weighing hopper into said spout, said spout having a diameter less than the mouth of a receiving bag to be placed thereover, and a bag retainer projecting from said spout on one side thereof whereby manual force exerted through said mouth against said spout will cause said retainer to grip said bag mouth.

3. In a method of bagging material, the steps of confining the material in a bin zone, feeding the material by gravity downwardly toward a weighing zone, continuously weighing the material received in said weighing zone, gradually diminishing the feed of said material, substantially simultaneously increasing the feed of said material and interrupting the downwardly travel of said material between said bin zone and said weigh ing zone and discharging said material from said weighing zone in response to a predetermined amount of material being received and weighed in said weighing zone, and then releasing the material the downward travel of which was interrupted while iagain diminishing the feed of said material from said bin zone.

4. In an automatic bagging machine, a bin for containing material having a discharge opening through which said material is discharged, a feed roller within said discharge opening, a first gate movable across said discharge opening toward said feed roller for restricting the size of said discharge opening, means for rot-ating said roller for discharging material past the end of said gate, a surge hopper below said discharge opening and having an opening through which said material may pass, a second gate adapted to close the opening of said surge hopper, a weighing bucket below said surge hopper for receiving material therefrom, a door for said weighing bucket, weighing means for weighing material in said weighing bucket, and means responsive to said weighing means for actuating said first gate and said second gate .and said door.

5. In an automatic bagging machine, a bin for containing material having a discharge opening through which said material is discharged, a feed roller within said discharge opening, a first gate movable across said discharge opening toward said feed roller for restricting the size of said discharge opening, means for rotating said roller for discharging material past the end of said gate, a surge hopper below said discharge opening and having an opening through which said material may pass, a second gate adapted to close the opening of said surge hopper, a weighing bucket below said surge hopper for receiving material therefrom, a door for said weighing bucket, weighing means for weighing material in said weighing bucket, means responsive to said weighing means for closing said second gate and opening said door and moving said first gate away from said roller, and means for closing said door.

6. In an automatic bagging machine, a bin for containing material having a discharge opening through which said material is discharged, a feed roller within said discharge opening, a first gate movable across said discharge opening toward said feed roller for restricting the size of said discharge opening, means for continuously rotating said roller for discharging material past the end of said gate, a surge hopper below said discharge opening and having an opening through which said material may pass, a second gate adapted to close the opening of said surge hopper, a weighing bucket below said surge hopper for receiving material therefrom, @a door for said weighing bucket, weighing means for weighing material in said weighing bucket, means responsive to said weighing means for substantially simultaneously closing said second gate and opening said door and moving said first gate away from said feed roller, means for closing said door, and means responsive to the closing of said door for opening said second gate and gradually moving said first gate toward said feed roller.

7. In an automatic bagging machine, a bin for containing material having a discharge opening through which said material is discharged, a teed roller within said discharge opening, said feed roller including a cylindrical drum and flanges at its ends protruding beyond the surface of said drum, a first gate movable across said discharge opening toward said cylindrical drum for restricting the size of said discharge opening, means for continuously rotating said drum for discharging material past the end of said gate, a surge hopper below said discharge opening and having an Opening through which said material may pass, a second gate adapted to close the opening of said surge hopper, a weighing bucket :below said surge hopper for receiving material therefrom, a door for said weighing bucket, weighing means for weighing material in said weighing bucket, means responsive to said weighing means for substantially simultaneously closing said second gate and opening said door and moving said first gate away from said drum, means for closing said door, and means responsive to the closing of said door for opening said second gate and gradu ally moving said first gate toward said cylindrical drum.

8. In an automatic bagging machine, a bin for containing material having a discharge opening through which said material is discharged, a feed roller within said discharge opening, said feed roller including a cylindrical drum, a first gate movable across said discharge opening toward said cylindrical drum for restricting the size of said discharge opening, means for rotating said drum for discharging material past the end of said gate, a surge hopper below said discharge opening and having an opening through which said material may pass, a second gate adapted to close the opening of said surge hopper, a weighing bucket below said surge hopper for receiving material therefrom, :a door for said weighing bucket, weighing means for weighing material in said weighing bucket, a solenoid operatively associated with said first gate and said second gate and said door, means responsive to said weighing means for actuating said solenoid to close said second gate and open said door and move said first gate away from said drum, means [for closing said door, means responsive to the closing of said door for deactuating said solenoid to open said second gate and release said first gate, and means for gradually urging said first gate toward said cylindrical drum.

9. In an automatic bagging machine, a bin for containing material having a discharge opening through which said material is discharged, a feed roller within said discharge opening, said feed roller including a cylindrical drum, a first gate movable across said discharge opening toward said cylindrical drum for restricting the size of said discharge opening, means for continuously rotating said drum for discharging material past the end of said gate, a surge hopper below said discharge opening and having an opening through which said material may pass, a second gate adapted to close the opening of said surge hopper, a weighing bucket below said surge hopper for receiving material therefrom, a door for said weighing bucket, a solenoid opera-tively associated with said first gate and said second gate and said door, weighing means for weighing material in said weighing bucket, means responsive to said weighing means for actuating said solenoid to close said second gate and open said door and move said first gate away from said drum, means for closing said door, and means responsive to the closing of said door for opening said second gate and gradually moving said first gate toward said cylindrical drum.

10 In an automatic bagging machine, rotatable feed roller means for conveying material in a path in its direc tion of rotation, means for rota-ting said feed roller means, said feed roller means having a periphery on which said material is conveyed, a gate in the path of feeding of said material and adjacent the periphery of said feed roller means for movement toward and away from said periphery for regulating the amount or" material feed by said feed roller means between its periphery and said gate, a hopper for receiving said material passed between said feed roller means and said gate, weight responsive means for supporting said hopper, electro-mechanical mean for controlling the movement of said gate toward and away from said periphery of said feed rolier means, switch means actuated by said weigh-t responsive means, and an electrical circuit between said switch means and said electro-mechanical means constructed and arranged to permit said switch means to control the actuation of said electro-mechanical means.

11. in an automatic bagging machine, rotatable feed roller means for conveying material in a path in its direction of rotation, means for rotating said feed roller means, said feed roller means having a periphery on which said material is conveyed, a first gate in the path of feeding of said material and adjacent the periphery of said feed roller means for movement toward and away from said periphery of regulating the amount of material feed by said feed roller means between its periphery and said gate, a hopper for receiving said material passed be tween said feed roller mean and said gate, weight responsive means for supporting said hopper, a second gate on said hopper for releasing the material in said hopper, electro-mechanical means for simultaneously controlling the movement of said first gate toward and away from said periphery of said feed roller means and for controlling the actuation of said second gate, switch means actuated by said weigh-t responsive means, and an electrical circuit between said switch means and said electromechanical means constructed and arranged to permit said switch means to control the actuation of said electromechanical means.

12. In an automatic bagging machine, rotatable feed roller means for conveying material in a path in its direction of rota-tion, means for rotating said feed roller means, said feed roller means having a periphery on which said material is conveyed, a gate in the path of feeding of said material and adjacent the periphery of said feed roller means for movement toward and away from said periphery for regulating the amount of material feed by said feed roller means between its periphery and said gate, a hopper for receiving said material passed between said feed roller means and said gate, weight responsive means for supporting said hopper and for controlling the movement of said gate toward and away from said periphery of said feed roller means, and means for yieldahly arresting the movement of said gate toward said periphery.

13. In a bagging machine, feed means from which material to be weighed is fed, a first gate operatively associated with said feed means for controlling the amount of material fed by said feed means, a surge hopper below said feed means for receiving said material when fed from said feed means, a second gate on said surge hopper for releasing material from said surge hopper when said second gate is opened, a weighing bucket below said surge hopper for receiving material from said surge hopper, a third gate for said weighing hopper for releasing material from said weighing hopper when said third gate is opened, weight responsive means connected to said weighing bucket and actuated when a predetermined amount of material is received in said weighing bucket, and means responsive to the actuation of said weight responsive means for opening said third gate to discharge said material from said Weighing bucket and for closing said second gate to confine in said surge hopper material flowing from said feed means and for actuating said first gate to regulate the amount of material fed by said feed means, and means responsive to the discharge of material from said Weighing bucket for closing said third gate and for opening said second gate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 55,06 3 Cook a- May 29, 1866 384,443 Hoover June 12, 1888 410,138 Cooley Aug. 27, 1889 421,556 Cooley Feb. 18, 1890 513,700 Anderson Jan. 30, 1894 733,247 Mitchell July 7, 1903 12 Stevens Nov. 22, 1921 Rand May 4, 1926 Varusky July 7, 1931 McBride Sept. 20, 1932 Alexander Oct. 15, 1940 Weckerly Mar. 3, 1942, Francis Mar. 17, 1942 Morel-and et al. Nov. 3, 1942 Vredenberg Apr. 18, 1944 Anderson May 15, 1945 Michel Sept. 24, 1946 Olcott Aug. 1, 1950 Wiley Nov. 25, 1952 Tucker May 5, 1953 Richardson 2 Aug. 2, 1955 Heltzel July 17, 1956 

1. AN AUTOMATIC BAGGING MACHINE COMPRISING A HOPPER, A FEED ROLLER BELOW SAID HOPPER FOR FEEDING MATERIAL THEREFROM, A FEED GATE POSITIONED ADJACENT THE PERIPHERY OF SAID FEED ROLLER AND MOVEABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID PERIPHERY TO CONTROL THE AMOUNT OF MATERIAL PASSING BETWEEN SAID ROLLER AND SAID GATE, A HYDRAULIC CYLINDER, A PISTON WITHIN SAID CYLINDER, A GATE ARM CONNECTED BETWEEN SAID FEED GATE AND SAID PISTON, CONTROL MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE RATE OF FLOW OF FLUID TO SAID CYLINDER TO VARIABLY DETERMINE THE RATE OF PISTON DISPLACEMENT TO THEREBY DETERMINE THE RATE OF MOVEMENT OF SAID GATE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID ROLLER, A SOLENOID FOR MOVING SAID GATE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM SAID ROLLER, A TIME DELAY SWITCH CONTROLLING SAID SOLENOID, MOTOR MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID FEED ROLLER, A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL CURRENT FOR ACTUATING SAID MOTOR MEANS AND SAID SOLENOID, A WEIGHING HOPPER FOR RECEIVING SAID MATERIAL FROM SAID ROLLER, WEIGHT RESPONSIVE MEANS SUPPORTING SAID WEIGHING HOPPER, AND MEANS CONTROLLED BY SAID WEIGHT RESPONSIVE MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE ACTUATION OF SAID SOLENOID. 